For an animated film to thrive, it has to do something we haven’t seen an animated film do before. Back in the early aughts this was far simpler, as computer-generated animation was still novelty enough to stand more or less alone if needed. But as more and more studios get into the remarkably lucrative game of computer-animated flicks, we’re seeing more and more films that flirt with other themes and genres. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs was more screwball comedy then kid’s movie, and the Neil Gaiman-sourced Coraline has a very eery and enjoyable darkness to it. This movement away from the center has not been lost on director Gore Verbinski in his first film in five years that doesn’t have Pirates in the title: Rango.
Peter Wertz
Wertz of Wisdom 